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John Brown Quintet, "Little" Big Band

When: Sat., Oct. 1, 8 p.m. 2016

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

JOHN BROWN QUINTET & "LITTLE" BIG BAND

John Brown is adept at re-creating and paying tribute to jazz musicians past. His big band has revitalized Duke Ellington's suite Such Sweet Thunder; his quintet has channeled Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers; his smaller combos have dug deep into the songbooks of Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Each of those projects is half revival, half reimagination, and the playing is always tasteful and spry. For this concert, Brown takes up the music of Errol Garner, a mid-century pianist best known for innovative chord voicings and rhythms, as well as his meandering, improvised introductions to songs. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut, a regular Brown collaborator and skilled creator of sonic "anachronisms," will play the role of Garner, joining Brown's quintet and "Little" Big Band. The groups' versatility, anchored by Brown's steady bass and saxophonist Brian Miller's big, flexible tone, should bring an enticing energy to Garner's staples. —Dan Ruccia